Healthy Holiday Hustle 2021: Hustle for Barso (and join our TEAM!)
There is only one person who was consistently as excited as I was
for Thanksgiving Day and the Annual Detroit Turkey Trot (…and kickoff to the Holiday Hustle).
That person was Matt Barsamian.
It never failed that right around mid-September (a full 2 months before the fun run event), my family would receive a witty pump-up email with the race registration confirmation attached, encouraging us to sign up:
2018: “Team - FYI we signed up for the turkey trot! 5k only - we’re not heroes.”
2017: “Let’s rock this race like a wagon wheel.”
2016: “Who’s with me?!!?? I signed up for the Stuffing Strut (8-10 min pace) because I’m a grownup who weighs over 250 lbs and I’m not trying to be a hero. As always, cowardice will not be tolerated. Time to go to work.”
While everyone else was busy with their day-to-day, Matt was thinking ahead to the next event, the next holiday, the next excuse to get together and have a little fun. It was never about the race itself – it was about the holidays, tradition, getting people together to “get after it” whatever “it” was.
When it came to the Holiday Hustle, Matt participated in classes and my silly photoshoots, was the first person (maybe in America) to sign up for the Turkey Trot, and donated way too much at the end of the challenge. He was the ultimate supporter, teammate, and enthusiast and embodied exactly what it means to be a Hustler.
The world could use more Matts.
For the 7th Annual Healthy Holiday Hustle we supported the Matthew D. Barsamian Foundation. While I no longer believe “everything happens for a reason,” I do believe that positive things can come out of tragedy. Matt's wife (my sister Lauren) and our families have created an organization that exists to further his legacy through charitable endeavors in sports and youth programs. (Read more about specific projects HERE). The Foundation’s slogan – NEXT PLAY – encourages us to continue to move forward despite sometimes debilitating life events and circumstances. To focus our energy on how we can better ourselves, exude positivity in the world and help out our people who make it all worth it in the end.
2021 was our biggest year to date - we had 350 Hustlers officially signed up and were able to raise $20,296!
We know it’s never about the race, the workout, the hustle. It’s about celebrating, getting excited about something, and being with the people that make it all worthwhile.
#LFG #HustleforBarso